The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-04-27
The Schools.

Inc SchOO1Ss
"There shall be kept open at least six
months in each year one or more Sc senoos tS ~ ~
II the Abbeville Press and Banner really
thinks II the duty of the Superintendent OF
Education to run the common scnools si1 si,
months in the year, 1t ought to prove its iaith
by its works. Let 1t take steps to compel SUI
perlntendent Rice to carry out the law. Inc
Courts of South Carolina are open to every.
body-eyen to those who put forth tne most
extraordinary propositions.-Cotumota rec
ord.
ills perfectly certain that the Constitution
REQUIRES the schools to be kept open for SIX
months in the year.
tits perfectly certain that Superintendent
Constitution.
It Is perfectly certain that the local school
authorities took o similar oath.
It is perfectly certain that many Of the
schools are not kept open for six months In
the year.
It is perfectly certain If the Trustees would
divide the apportionment to the different
schools in their respective townships into six
equal parts that every school would be Kept
open for six months.
It's. we believe, equally certain that the
earlier closing Of the schools is In consequence
of somebody's ignorance Of the official obli-
CATION.
It's certain that the Trustees in very many
of the townships would keep the schools
open for ten months If they would look to the
interest Of the children. There Is no earthly
use :of paying $40 a month 10 any public
school teacher.
We do not believe there is any law to re-
qulre the Superintendent to keep the schools
open. 1t Is, however, barely possible the hint
which the Record gives in jest may yet
result In bringing the school officers to
a sense OF their duty. A mandamus against
the school trustees who annually award
pensions from the public fund to lot OF teach
ers who can command little or no salary from
the people, may restrain these generous OH
GERS from giving out the public money un-
lawfully.
II this mandamus should be sustained the
trustees will be personally liable for the money
which may be necessary to complete the
required school term Of six months.
Even II the Courts should be forgetful Of
the Interests OF the children and be subser-
Went to the school teachers, 1t Is barely pos
sible that an appeal to the ballot may rectify
their wrongs. An appeal to the ballot last
year proved blessing to the children in Alb
beville county.
II the Record will refer to the official papers,
the testimony, and the argument, In the case
OF James A. Bigby, appellant, from White
Hall, that newspaper may learn something
of the way in which "the children OF persons
who rent land" have been treated in Able
yille County, as well as the manner In which
the State Board sustained the local board.
FROM that decision the people Of Abbeville
county appealed to the ballot box. The re-
suit OF this last appeal has secured to every
child in Abbeville county longer term than
they had had, and In one instance, at least,
those who had been denied school privileges
have been furnished facilities equal to the
most favored locality.
There is one thing, however, to deter the
people from making legal efforts to have the
schools run for six months. The school off,
GERS may, In retaliation, conclude 10 close the
country schools altogether, or place n few
schools at such great distances apart as to
practically deny poor people Of any school
at all. or course rich and influential people
about the towns, as we'll as the country cross
roads politicians, will always manage to have
schools. In case OF all action Of this sort,
however, an appeal 10 the ballot may remedy
the evil.
The Record may rest assured that the peo-
pie are tired and sick Of the wilful waste Of
their school money.
The school fund In every County, is, we
think, sufficiently abundant to keep every
school open for six months, and the people
will likely see to 1t In the future that they are
kept open for that length Of time, and, II
they are wise, they will demand even more.
The children and tax payers seem to have
few friends among the school officers and
newspapers Of the State. Instead Of encour.
aging parents to educate their own children,
the newspapers and these officers in many
cases, write, talk and speak Of the great neces
sity OF paying teachers big salaries. and seem
to encourage the belief that they by right are
entitled to more Of the tax payers money.
The teachers are organized in many coun-
ties, and in many instances, the school COM
missioners are at their head, leading the at.
tack on the property owners, while many of
the public press are sustaining this iniquitous
and ruinous proceeding-to the injury Of the
children, and to the robbery OF the already
over.burdened taxpayers OF the State.
1t is exceeding strange that the school teach
ers are the only officers of the government
who talk SO much Of their pay. Teachers and
officers who are dissatisfied with the bonus
given by the government should find other
and more profitable employment. There is
no lack Of teachers, and we presume the o.
fees will notgo begging.